Page 13 of On The Edge
The club is dark and dim, with low lighting along the walls and a strobe light going off over the crowd of people in the pit. It’s a big club, bigger than I was expecting. We walk into a terrace overlooking the DJ stage and the horde of people jumping, dancing, or making out in the darkness. Reis stands against the railing, watching like a dark overlord in charge of all his subjects.
“Hello, gentleman. My name is John; I’m the owner of this establishment. Thank you so much for stopping to have a celebratory drink. We appreciate doing business with you.” He’s dressed like Louis in a three-piece monkey suit and he’s holding the lapels like he’s from the 1920’s. “Your manager is already in the VIP room, having inspected everything and assuring me it’s to your liking and our contract’s specifics.”
“Thank you, John.” Reis shakes his hand and the rest of us nod. John looks to Melody, who is standing very close to Kai, with a confused look on his face.
Adam goes to her other side, resting his hand on her lower back to show support. I step closer to her so she knows I have her back.
John gets the idea. His eyes widen slightly and he nods, backing up. “Please, let me show you and your guest the VIP lounge.”
“I think that would be best,” Kai grumbles.
We follow along, used to the stares and the gawking, but Melody fidgets. She’s confident and putting on a good show, but I know her. I know her tells. Notthatmuch has changed in sevenyears. She’s tucked her hair behind her ear twice since we’ve walked in, and she’s gnawing on her lower lip right now.
At the end of the corridor, there’s a loft area with security detail on either side. They’re big fuckers and I feel a tiny bit better having Melody with us with these guys right outside. I don’t expect shit to hit the fan, but if it does, I want someone who can pick her up and run out of here if I can’t do it myself.
There’s only a velvet rope separating the VIP lounge from the rest of the club, but the VIP area is opulent. There’s champagne on ice everywhere, our own bar and bartender, and couches and tables spread out so if we want privacy, there’s room.
Fuck, those couches look like plush clouds and I’m reminded quickly how exhausted I am. Reis walks off to talk to Louis, Kai steps over to the bar quickly, and Adam excuses himself to go to the bathroom. Leaving me alone with Melody.
Finally.
“Wow,” Melody gasps, looking all around us with a dropped jaw.
“Nice, huh?”
“It’s nice, sure. But if you’re going to be dancing the whole time, what’s the point?”
I chuckle, stepping closer to her. “Still like dancing?”
“I love dancing.” She sighs, looking up to the ceiling with a bright smile.
“You always did. I didn’t get to dance with you nearly enough.” I step closer to her. She’s shorter than I am by at least half a foot, and I’ve always loved it. I love being able to crowd her space so completely and have her eyes meet mine so innocently.
Reaching down, I pull at her hair tie, watching as her long dark waves tumble down to rest over her shoulders.
“There,” I say gruffly.
“Like my hair?” she teases, throwing my words back at me.
Two can play that game.
“I love your hair.”
She smirks and quips, “You always did.”
Kai arrives with three drinks in his hand and hands the first one to Mel. “Double whiskey and diet, right?” he asks, calling back to her obsession with the drink she had in high school. We’d spent too many nights around the campfire, me strumming the guitar and Reis mumbling lyrics, while we all passed around a whiskey bottle and a two-liter of Diet Coke.
None of us really liked the chaser but Mel was obsessed with Diet Coke, so we all endured.
“You remembered… thanks.” She smiles brightly at Kai and the normally gruff, pissed-off man actually blushes. He doesn’t say anything as he hands me a drink, but shrugs like it’s no big deal.
Adam walks into the room, but this time with a girl in tow.
My eyes gravitate towards Mel, curious to see how she reacts. Maybe her reaction will tell me a little bit about where her heart is at… Where itwasall those years ago. Her fingers grip the glass a little tighter and she takes a long drink.
“Careful, Songbird, that’s a double,” I whisper.
“Don’t worry about me, Markus. I’ve grown up. I can hold my liquor now. Probably better than you.”
